Great August Deals- What to Buy on Sale

If you are planning to do some canning this fall then make sure that you have all your canning supplies ready, check Kijiji and Craigs List for people that are selling off their canning supplies for a fraction of what you will pay in the stores.

If you have a freezer then start planning to fill that up with inexpensive fresh produce. Cauliflower, broccoli, peas, beans, and many other vegetable freeze very well and are great to have in the middle of winter. Most vegetables need to be blanched (put in boiling water for a few minutes) and then set in chilled water before freezing otherwise if you freeze them directly they will have the texture of bullets. Here is more information on how to freeze vegetables.

Keep your eye out for nibbles like pickles and olives that tend to go on sale at the end of summer as BBQ and picnics wind down but are great to have on the bar during the winter party season.

Seasonal gardening centers are slashing their prices and doing their best to get rid of any stock, the savings are usually 50% on hard goods, and up to 75% on plants. Perennial plants can be put into the garden at almost any time of the summer but they must be watered well, especially during a heat wave or drought. Outdoor lighting is marked at 25% to 50% off in home improvement stores. Remember that spot lights can be used on the house and gardens in the winter as Christmas lights and they can be used to light up your house for parties. 

Smaller sporting good stores will sometimes have last seasons winter sports gear on  sale now before the new and improved gear arrives in a few weeks. Savings can be from 20% to 50%. If you are dealing with the owner of the store you can drop in and ask if there will be any  pre-season sales of last years stock.

Swimming Pool Toys, Water Guns, Bathing Suits, Flip Flop, Beach Towels if you can still find them, are marked down 50 to 75 % or more at big box stores and grocery stores that need to clear the aisles to bring in fall items and back to school supplies. These are great to buy and hold for next summer or if you have late spring birthdays to buy for such things as mini water guns are fun to slip into loot bags. Flip flops are great loot bag treats if you are planning to do a spa  party (for kids or adults).  

If you can get bathing suits at a really great deal then you might buy a size larger than you need for a growing boy or girl and if it is cheap enough you can pass it on if they grow too large for it before they need it. You actually might need an extra bathing suit if they are planning to take any swimming lessons this winter. This might be the time to buy yourself a really good quality swim suit. Flimsy swim suit material barely lasts a season and doesn't hold in everything like it should. A good swim suit should make you look as if you have lost 10 pounds by its style and fabric.

Large items that take up a lot of floor space, such as BBQs, play structures, cloth gazebos, above ground pools, hot tubs, sand boxes, etc are now on deep discount as stores have to clear the space for fall and winter.  You should have already done your homework and know what features and styles that you would like to buy and are ready to pounce when you see the right price. It never hurts to say to the sales person in a pleasant manner, "This is great, it is almost exactly what I'm looking for but is there anything we can do about the price?"  Some times they can offer you a floor model at a better price but it might not be in exactly perfect condition, with minor scratches or bumps. 

Check the newspaper classified and the on line classifieds for these items as well. It is shocking how many people buy things that they never use and then have to sell. Generally pre-bought items tend to be advertised for sale for about 50% of their original cost but remember this is a price that you can bargain with and you will also not be paying the tax on these items. Used items in good condition generally tend to sell for 30% of their original cost. Often BBQ covers are on sale now and harder to find in the fall when you really need them.

Summer Clothes, Sun Glasses, Summer Sandals, Purses, Jewelry, Hats- Summer clothes should be on clearance now. The really light weight tank tops and t-shirts can be much too flimsy  to wear in public but they might be just right to sleep in. Light weight draw string shorts also make great pajama bottoms on hot nights.

Fall clothes. This is the time of year that retailers are gambling on their back to school stock. If sales are slow and they feel that they bought to much they are willing to slash prices to get it out of the stores so they can bring in Christmas goods in September. Keep your eyes peeled for some great bargains.  
  
Sun glasses are always a great fashion statement so look for a pair on sale that will complement you fall and winter wardrobe. The glare of sunlight on snow is very harmful to you eyes and your eyes need just as much protection in the winter as they do the summer.

Summer shoes and sandals have been on sale for a while now so look for sale of more than 50% off.  A good pair of leather sandals never go out of style so if you spot a pair at an amazing price grab them.
 
Purses are at 25% to 75% off depending on the quality. Purses that come in wicker or wicker styles are a great summer classic and will go with everything from sun dresses to denim but if you go to buy one make sure that it's well made. Even if it is marked 75 % off it is useless if it  seems too flimsy to hold anything.  The eye popping brightly coloured purses are the ones that you will get the best deals on as there is no way the store can keep it out with their dark fall coloured purses. Take a bit of time and see if you can find something amazing in leather. Cloth hobo style purses are great in the summer to take to the beach or hang out on a restaurant patio these can go at clearance prices as little as 99 cents.
 
Summer jewelry on sale at 25% to 75% off tends to be brighter than what you would wear in the fall but if you wear jewelry on a regular basis and have an idea of what would perk up your  fall wardrobe then start the search. Wood bracelets and well constructed wood necklaces look very sporty against the thicker fall fabrics, silver and brass are suitable year round but cheap brass can leave tarnish marks on you clothes and skin.

Summer Hats are 50% to 75% off. Some people never wear hats but it is a good idea to have at least one on hand in case you are invited to a summer activity where you will be out in the heat of the day (such as sitting in the stands watching a baseball game in the full glare of the sun). If you have the style why not try to buy a summer garden hat that you could wear with your sun dress, a hat that would make you look like a young Grace Kelly not your old aunt Gladys. 

Plastic Outdoor dishes, Glasses and serving Plates-  I'm not a fan of these items since you really can't put them into the dishwasher and they tend to crack under the slightest pressure but if you want them they are on sale now.

Summer Table Linens- Avoid the summer linens that are plastic made to look like cloth, the creases in them are almost impossible to remove and when you refold them the get a whole new set of creases. The only way to keep them in any sort of shape is to store them wrapped around a tube. The only thing that they are really good for is as an under cloth on picnic tables to save your good cloth from the embedded dirt on the table. Table linens in bright colours can be used for children's birthday parties through out the year. Orange table clothes can be used in October for Thanksgiving and Halloween and look for red linens that you can use during Christmas and Valentines day. 

Thrift Stores are packed with leftovers from garage sales so there are some real treasures in them right now. When they are really packed they even have sales themselves so ask the people working in the thrift stores if they know of any sales coming up. This can be a good time to look for fall and winter decor at thrift stores.

Garage sales might be getting a bit thin in the heat of the summer but they are going on. Remember to pack your list of what you are looking for and keep an eye out for any possible Christmas gifts.

Shelves are being stocked with back to school supplies. A lot of these items can be used for home offices but don't over buy. Make sure that you check what your child has from last years before you get the all new stuff. 

There are so many crafts that use natural ingredients that you can start gathering now.You can start drying flowers for fall arrangements, pressing fauna to use in all sorts of crafts,  pine cones look great decoratively over fall and Christmas and you make everything from teddy bears to wreaths with them.

You can start collecting fragrant flowers to dry to make potpourri  and if you are growing herbs harvest them on a regular basis to dry them while you use the fresh leaves in your summer cooking.  

If you are eating fresh corn save the husks to make corn husk dolls.  Shells are fun and easy to collect and add a summer vibe to your home. If there was any natural crafts that you have always wanted to try then look for the raw products around you.